Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We have few reptiles here, so thank goodness that Garters are common here, even abundant in wetlands areas.

Tree frogs can be active here year round; I've heard them croak every month of the year! They are becoming very vocal around wetlands as breeding accelerates with warming weather.

We began having spring-like days in late February, by the first week of March the Garters were out, too.

Herping this week at one of my favorite spots near the confluence of the Willamette & Columbia rivers, I spotted Garters at the following ratio:

Wednesday

Red-spotted 6
Northwestern? 2
Unknown 1

The Northwesterns all had a different look than I've previously seen. All have a dark, solid body with greenish-blue, almost turquoise stripes, and a small dot at the back of the head (like a Cal King). All 3 stripes are clearly defined, with no aberrations seen in pattern.

Thursday

Red-spotted 7
Northwestern? 1

Based on colors & patterns, I may have been spotting Puget Sound Garters at the southern end of their range, beyond what their range map indicates!

What were the temperatures like when the garters started to come out? and what are the temps like now that you're seeing plenty? just curious because the season starts quite a bit later up her in Eastern Canada! It's been about 10 years since i've been herping locally and i don't want to miss any chances!

They have been active this week during sun breaks. Temperatures are only up to about 55 degrees! (It has frozen at night at least twice in the last 2 weeks; although not a hard freeze.)

I collected my first Red-spotted last September when conditions were very similar: cloudy with only occasional sun breaks, high about 66 degrees.

I have a feeling i'll be waiting awhile to hit the field here in new brunswick, were expecting close to 50cm of snow in the next week!! blah, stay inside and hope my male corn is ready to mate once he sheds! i have to wait for everything, oh wait, thats life!

Man,It must be nice to find red spotteds when you want them!My male needs a girlfriend! Jeff

Just yesterday with highs only up to 55 degrees, I saw at least 8 Red-spotteds.

Ranging from tiny hatchling of only about 6 inches to very large adults over 3 feet or more.

Are there none for sale on Kingsnake.com Classifieds?

Here, on the High Desert of eastern Oregon, temps are a good bit colder. Last week we still had some light snow flurries. Today, it is finally up to 60 degres F. at the end of April.

Caught my Wndering Garter, Ellie, about eight years ago, on my parents' ranch (before they sold it), about ten miles out of town.

SnakeyLakey